Billboard’s annual celebration of the most innovative and influential young artists in the music industry includes Olivia Rodrigo, The Kid LAROI, d4vd, Ayra Starr and more.
This year’s 21 Under 21 package features the next generation of superstars who are savvier than ever — and know the importance of balancing nonstop careers while still maintaining at least a shred of privacy.
It’s something that fast-rising newcomer d4vd has already mastered. The 18-year-old — who teased his breakout hit “Romantic Homicide” on social media without ever showing his face — has quickly become one of alternative music’s most promising new artists. And come May 26, he’ll release his debut EP, Petals to Thorns.
The 2023 list includes other new names like alternative artist Riovaz, fast-rising R&B trio FLO and Afropop sensation Ayra Starr alongside more familiar chart-toppers like Olivia Rodrigo, The Kid LAROI and Lil Tecca — all of whom are teasing anticipated new projects on the way.
Rodrigo shared an update on her Sour follow-up in an Instagram story at the top of the year, LAROI debuted a new song off his upcoming album during his April Coachella set and in February Lil Tecca captioned a video on Instagram of himself in the studio, “when we droppin this album?”
It’s clear for the artists on this list that the year ahead — and, considering their early start, the years to come — will continue to be bright, if not nonstop.
Methodology: Billboard editors and reporters weighed a variety of factors in determining the 2023 21 Under 21 list, including, but not limited to, impact on consumer behavior, measured by metrics such as album and track sales, streaming volume (listed here as each artist’s on-demand official U.S. career streams, according to Luminate), social media impressions and radio/TV audiences reached; career trajectory; and overall impact in the industry, specifically during the past 12 months. Unless otherwise noted, Luminate is the source for sales/streaming data.
A version of this list originally appeared in the May 13, 2023 issue of Billboard.
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Ángela Aguilar
Image Credit: Erick Nieto Age 19
Label Machín Récords
Publisher SESAC
Management Pepe Aguilar
Total Streams 322.8 millionBorn to regional Mexican music royalty — her father is Pepe Aguilar and her grandfather is Antonio Aguilar — the artist has become a star in her own right. In March, her collaboration with Yuridia, “Qué Agonía,” scored the ranchera singer-songwriter her third top 10 entry on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart. After spending the past few years on the road with her family for their top-grossing Jaripeo Sin Fronteras show, the 19-year-old will embark on a solo tour titled Piensa En Mí this summer. Inspired by Pepe’s career, she says, “It’s nice to have someone that you admire at home, someone who can direct me in the right direction because everything that I’m going through, he has already gone through.”
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Ayra Starr
Image Credit: Lex Ash Age 20
Label Mavin Records
Publisher Mavin Global Holdings
Management Mavin Records
Total Streams 138.2 millionIn 2021, Afropop artist Ayra Starr scored a record deal with one of Nigeria’s most influential labels, Mavin Records, thanks to the various covers she had posted to Instagram. That same year, the Beninese-born Nigerian singer not only released her self-titled EP that included breakout hit “Away,” which reached No. 17 on Billboard’s Top Triller Global chart, but also her debut album, 19 & Dangerous, that featured Fousheé and Ckay. She has since been featured on songs by Wizkid and Libianca, and in February dropped her latest single, “Sability.” She believes “real talent, hard work and perseverance” are the biggest indicators of success in today’s music industry, adding, “Success can also be shown by how well you handle promotion on socials like Instagram and TikTok, in the way you put yourself out there and how you show a creative and entrepreneurial spirit.”
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Chloe Moriondo
Image Credit: Kenneth Cappello Age 20
Label Public Consumption/Fueled by Ramen
Publisher Kobalt
Management Alternate Side
Total Streams 200 millionFollowing the 2021 release of their debut album, Chloe Moriondo maintained momentum in 2022: The rising bedroom-pop artist dropped their second album, Suckerpunch, in October before heading out on a five-week headlining North American tour. But they say they’re most proud of what came after: at long last taking some time off. “It took a lot of touring for me to finally realize how tired I was and how little I was paying attention to myself,” they say. Their time on the road paid off, though, helping the up-and-comer further cement their own brand of off-center pop. “The best stuff right now is made by people who are comfortable and happy with their expression,” says Moriondo. “Whether that be the way you dress and present yourself visually or the way you create your sounds.”
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d4vd
Image Credit: Nolwen Cifuentes Age 18
Label Darkroom/Interscope Records
Publisher Sony Music Publishing
Management Mogul Vision
Total streams 614.3 millionSince stepping out into the world, d4vd has quickly become one of alternative music’s most promising new artists. The singer born David Anthony Burke grew up an avid gamer, and after a series of copyright strikes on the montages he would make using other artist’s music, his mother inspired him to create music of his own. Turning his sister’s closet into his makeshift studio, d4vd soon emerged with a handful of material, including his breakout hit “Romantic Homicide.” The fuzzy alt-rock song, which arrived last summer, peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 and soon after led to a label deal with Darkroom/Interscope.
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DannyLux
Image Credit: Esteban Flores Age 19
Label VPS Music via Warner Latina
Publisher Warner Chappell Music
Management Jose Luis Aguilar
Total Streams 217 millionIn April, DannyLux made his Coachella debut, performing his signature sad sierreño anthems in front of a significant crowd. It was a full-circle moment for the singer-songwriter, who grew up in the Coachella Valley area. He says he’s most proud of bringing his family along with him, “and for them to experience all of this as well,” but his impact extends well beyond his circle: DannyLux is helping usher in a new global era for Mexican music, which led to a record deal last year with Warner Music Latina in partnership with his independent label, VPS Music. “I feel like there is a lot of pressure,” he says. “You have to stay consistent because it’s so easy to just fall off.”
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FLO
Image Credit: Conor Cunningham Age Stella Quaresma, 21; Renée Downer, 20; Jorja Douglas, 21
Label Island UK/Republic Records
Publisher Sony ATV
Management Rob Harrison (Listen Generously), Sam Eldridge (Urok Management)
Total Streams 43.5 millionIn just one year, British R&B group FLO has created a significant buzz, thanks in part to debut single “Cardboard Box” and its critically acclaimed EP, The Lead. The trio, which won the 2023 BRIT Awards’ Rising Star trophy, recently tapped Missy Elliott for its single “Fly Girl,” which samples the rap icon’s 2002 hit “Work It.” Having wrapped a sold-out North American tour in April, the members of FLO are most grateful for their listeners; as Douglas puts it, “Having fans that actually love your music and want to be a part of your journey is really special.” Ahead, the trio is excited to dive into production and fashion — Quaresma calls Beyoncé “the blueprint for a lot of what we do. Her legacy and what she has done for women in the music industry is so inspirational.”
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GAYLE
Image Credit: Acacia Evans Age 18
Label Atlantic Records/Arthouse Records
Publisher Arthouse Entertainment
Management Kristina Russo
Total Streams 633.5 millionAfter “abcdefu” took off on TikTok in 2022, GAYLE proved she was here to stay, entering the top 10 of the Hot 100 and later earning a nomination for song of the year at the 2023 Grammy Awards. Yet, she believes social media to be a “double-edged sword.” She adds: “In my experience, I think it leads to people, more than ever, feeling like they have the right to tear people down that are trying to build themselves up.” She admires both Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift, the latter of whom she says has “created such a beautiful and supportive fan base” — one that she has gotten to see in person while opening for Swift’s record-breaking The Eras Tour.
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Ivan Cornejo
Image Credit: Mario Alberto Milán/Courtesy Imagine It Media Age 18
Label n/a
Publisher n/a
Management Pamela Cornejo
Total Streams 1.1 billionIvan Cornejo was 17 years old when he secured his first Billboard chart entry with his 2021 debut album, Alma Vacía, landing at No. 2 on Regional Mexican Albums. That same year, the project’s “Está Dañada” became the second regional Mexican song to ever enter the Billboard Hot 100. The singer-songwriter has since maintained momentum, with his sierreño tunes — mostly backed by melancholic requintos and emotional vocals — helping Cornejo score his first No. 1 on Regional Mexican Albums with his second set, Dañado. (A deluxe edition arrived last December.) “The most exciting part about being a young artist is the influence my music can have on other upcoming artists,” he says, which can best be reflected in the Yahritza Y Su Esencia-assisted “Inseparables” that dropped last fall.
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Kidd G
Image Credit: David O’Donohue Age 20
Label Rebel Music/The Valory Music Co./Geffen Records
Publisher n/a
Management Hard 8 Working Group
Total Streams 538 millionSince debuting on the Billboard charts with “Dirt Road” in 2020, Kidd G has maintained a presence with his Hot Country Songs hit, “Teenage Dream,” and a “Dirt Road” remix with BRELAND. This year, in between his headlining tour dates with opener CB30, he has been back in the studio crafting new music. “I feel like I’ve figured out what my sound is, and I’m excited to keep growing that,” he says, adding that he has been taking notes from Morgan Wallen. “I love his music and admire the way it draws you in. He also has a really good stage presence, which is something I look up to.”
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The Kid LAROI
Image Credit: Jason Nocito Age 19
Label Columbia Records
Publisher Sony Music Publishing
Management SB Projects
Total Streams 3.1 billionAfter his Justin Bieber collaboration “Stay” became one of the biggest songs of last year, The Kid LAROI started off 2023 strong, announcing his upcoming debut album, The First Time, and releasing a string of singles including “Love Again” and “Kids Are Growing Up (Part 1).” His latest, the heart-aching ballad “Where Does Your Spirit Go?,” was unveiled during his Coachella set. After signing his label deal at 15 years old, The Kid LAROI recently told Billboard that it was both “a big blessing and a bit of a curse” starting out that young. “At 15, you don’t know anything … You’re like a literal child,” he said. “The cool thing about music and putting stuff out is it’s like a time capsule. And it’s cool that I get to look back, cringe at it and be proud of the next stuff I’m about to put out.”
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Lauren Spencer-Smith
Image Credit: Sam Dameshek Age 19
Label Island Records/Republic Records
Publisher Warner Chappell Music
Management AG Artists
Total Streams 669.5 millionLauren Spencer-Smith is an open book and makes it look easy: After capturing attention with her devastating breakup ballad “Fingers Crossed,” which went viral on TikTok in early 2022 and eventually peaked at No. 19 on the Hot 100, the singer-songwriter has continued to help fans heal with follow-up hits like “Flowers,” “Best Friend Breakup” and “28.” “Going viral is great, but what really matters is if your music is truly resonating with people,” says Spencer-Smith, who signed a joint deal with Island and Republic last year. “There’s no better feeling than watching your music help others. That’s when those viral moments will continue. That’s the real indicator of success.”
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Lil Tecca
Image Credit: Daniel Prakopcyk Age 20
Label Galactic Records/Republic Records
Publisher Universal Music Publishing Group
Management Giuseppe Zappala
Total Streams 4.4 billionSince making his Hot 100 debut with the 2019 hit “Ran$om,” Lil Tecca has evolved his sing-song hooks and syrupy melodies. Now boasting 10 Hot 100 hits and three top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 (most recently with 2021’s We Love You Tecca 2), the New York rapper has released a string of singles, including “Fallin” and “Tressa,” over the past year, while also flourishing as a reliable guest star on collaborations with Internet Money, Rich Amiri and Mabel. He’s now teasing a new project on Instagram but says he’s most proud of “doing hella adult stuff like getting groceries and sh-t, that’s my favorite thing to do.”
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The Linda Lindas
Image Credit: Jessie Cowan Age Bela Salazar, 18; Lucia de la Garza, 16; Eloise Wong, 15; Mila de la Garza, 12
Label Epitaph Records
Publisher Warner Chappell Music
Management Fly South Music Group
Total Streams 12.8 millionRiding an initial viral wave in 2021 spurred by a live performance of its song “Racist, Sexist Boy” at the Los Angeles Public Library, the four-piece punk group settled in last year with its debut album, Growing Up, released on Epitaph. The act subsequently toured the project at festivals, as well as on North American and international treks, during which Lucia de la Garza says she “really got the idea of how widespread the reach of the internet and streaming platforms are.” In April, the band returned with single “Too Many Things” and a Coachella performance, which it will follow by opening for Paramore and playing at Lollapalooza Chicago in August.
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Luh Tyler
Image Credit: Chris Allmeid Age 17
Label Motion Music/Atlantic Records
Publisher n/a
Management Javorice Hayes
Total Streams 111.3 millionLuh Tyler was a skilled point guard before picking up a mic and developing his now signature wavy flow and witty bars. Last year, the Tallahassee, Fla., rapper took off when the video for “Law & Order,” which reworked the theme to the long-running drama series, garnered over 19 million YouTube views. A deal with Atlantic Records shortly followed, along with his debut mixtape, My Vision, which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart — his first entry on any chart. He’s currently most proud of his quick ascent to becoming “one of the hottest rappers in under a year,” and ahead looks forward to “being recognized and known around the world, and being able to take care of [my] family.”
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Nessa Barrett
Image Credit: Colin Miller Age 20
Label Warner Records
Publisher Sony ATV
Management Night
Total Streams 474.1 millionLast fall, rising alt-pop star Nessa Barrett released her debut album, young forever, which was led by the aching single “Die First,” dedicated to her late friend Cooper Noriega. In February, she kicked off her first headlining outing of the same name in support of the project. “I never experienced anything like that,” she says. “I really found myself as an artist on the stage every night, and it makes me so excited for everything to come.” This year, she has released two new singles, “Bang Bang” and “American Jesus,” and most recently starred in the latest campaign for Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS.
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NLE Choppa
Image Credit: Gunner Stahl Age 20
Label NLE Entertainment/Warner Records
Publisher n/a
Management Tricky Montgomery, Angeleta Potts, Brandon Potts
Total Streams 5.8 billionSince emerging in 2019 with his hit single “Shotta Flow,” NLE Choppa continues to be a champion for the youth with his contagious energy. In 2023, the Memphis rapper scored two more Hot 100 entries, boosting his career total to 11, including “Do It Again” with 2Rare and “Slut Me Out.” The latter went viral and became Choppa’s highest-charting hit on the list, reaching No. 28. Despite “not getting enough rest,” Choppa maintains his hunger as an underdog — and believes in long-term planning. “I started at 16. Now I’m 20,” he says. “I got 20 more years, and I’m only getting better.”
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Olivia Rodrigo
Image Credit: Davis Bates Age 20
Label Interscope Geffen A&M
Publisher Sony Music Publishing
Management Lighthouse Management + Media
Total Streams 6.1 billionTwo years after releasing her blockbuster debut album, Sour, Olivia Rodrigo is still at the top of the pop game, with anticipation swirling around its follow-up. In the last year, Rodrigo wrapped her first headlining tour, graduated from Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and gave a number of legends their flowers, inducting Alanis Morissette into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, performing at Carly Simon’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction and presenting Lana Del Rey with the Visionary Award at Billboard’s Women in Music event. All the while, she has been preparing to take center stage again, with Rodrigo teasing in a January Instagram story that she’s “working on so many new songs I’m excited to show u!” A second tour could be in her near future, too: “I’ve been seeing a lot more live shows lately, and it makes me really excited to embark on my next tour,” she says. “The touring industry is super fascinating to me.”
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Riovaz
Image Credit: Kayla Menze Age 19
Label Darkroom Records/Geffen
Publisher n/a
Management Jacob Byrnes, Argenis Hernandez
Total Streams 215.6 millionSince debuting with his Into the Unknown EP in 2020, Riovaz has released music at a steady pace, with uptempo dance hits like “Prom Night” and “I Feel Fantastic” being among fan favorites. Most recently, the New Jersey native boosted his catalog with his February EP, Disturb the Norm — his first project to arrive since signing to Darkroom Records, in partnership with Geffen, last summer. “A lot of people are focusing only on streams and followers, which to me doesn’t make me fall in love and remember an artist,” says Riovaz. “Success, to me, is to be remembered for your contributions to the music industry and the scene you’ve built around yourself as an artist … Community has always been a big part of my career in the early days, so taking that from the internet into real life is still such a crazy thing to me.”
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Stephen Sanchez
Image Credit: Luke Rogers Age 20
Label Republic Records
Publisher Universal Music Publishing Group
Management LoyalT Management
Total Streams 460.2 millionPlenty of aspiring artists write love songs in their bedrooms intended for their crushes. But few have evoked classic romance quite like Sanchez did with his waltzing, 1950s-indebted hit, “Until I Found You,” which soundtracked hundreds of thousands of TikToks featuring wedding and couple celebrations. The 2021 single crossed over from viral success to radio hit last year, reaching No. 23 on the Hot 100 and topping the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. And while the Republic Records crooner has released several versions of “Until I Found You,” he has also shared some new, retro-leaning tunes ahead of his fall tour. “There has been a really healthy growth and certainly lots of adjustment,” says Sanchez, “but I’ve been having a hell of a good time along the way.”
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Tate McRae
Image Credit: Beth Saravo Age 19
Label RCA Records
Publisher Sony Music Publishing
Management Full Stop Management
Total Streams 2.3 billionAfter releasing her debut album, I Used To Think I Could Fly, last spring, Tate McRae has continued to drop pop hits, including “uh oh” and her Tiësto collaboration “10:35,” which peaked at No. 69 on the Hot 100 in February. And at the Juno Awards in March, McRae was up for five awards, including single of the year for “She’s All I Wanna Be,” album of the year for I Used To Think I Could Fly and songwriter of the year. She believes the most exciting thing about being a young artist today is also the most challenging: “It’s all in your hands — you have the freedom to become anything you want.”
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Yunè Pinku
Image Credit: Leanda Heler Age 20
Label Platoon
Publisher Because Music
Management Outlier Artists
Total Streams 2.3 millionYunè Pinku, the Malaysian Irish U.K.-based producer-singer-songwriter, only began releasing music in 2021 — but the swell of support for her hypnotic singles has already been overwhelming, encouraging her to “be bolder and braver” on her debut EP, Babylon IX, which arrived in April on Platoon. (The project is also powering her first U.S. live shows this summer.) “It’s hard sometimes because there’s no rulebook, so you’re kind of blindly walking through it all,” she says of the industry. But it’s “pillar female artists” like Madonna, Björk, Lady Gaga and Imogen Heap who continue to inspire her. “There’s something I really admire about the unconventional woman in music, who just has this formidable permanence in the face of it all.”
